The Great British Bake Off: BBC confirms TWO Christmas specials for 2016

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF will be airing two festive episodes for Christmas 2016.

The Great British Bake Off will be airing two festive episodes for Christmas 2016

The judges - Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry - will recruit four bakers from previous series in each episode to tackle three seasonal challenges.

Presenters Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc will also be fronting the show, as usual, with the contestants being tasked with whipping up treats for the holidays.

Charlotte Moore, director of BBC content, said: "What a treat to bring two Great British Bake Off specials to BBC One this Christmas. Mary, Paul, Mel and Sue are the perfect recipe for the festive season."

Past Christmas episodes - known as Bake Off Masterclasses - have seen Hollywood and Berry demonstrate festive recipes.

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What a treat to bring two Great British Bake Off specials to BBC One this Christmas

Charlotte Moore, director of BBC content

But this year the two specials will replace this format and set ex-contestants challenges in the true spirit of the show.

Richard McKerrow, creative director at Bake Off’s production company Love Productions, added: "We're excited to announce that there will be two specials of The Great Christmas Bake Off. What could be a better Christmas gift than welcoming back past bakers for a fun-filled festive Bake Off!"

A massive 15.1 million viewers tuned in to see Nadiya Hussain named the winner of the season finale of the 2015 series, making it the most-watched show of last year.